Najib announces RM500 aid for rubber tappers, smallholders

KUALA KANGSAR: Some RM194mil will be given out to rubber estate smallholders and rubber tappers in light of the commodity's drop in prices.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the announcement during a presentation ceremony at Dewan Jubli here Friday, and said the money would be distributed to 307,770 smallholders and 80,000 rubber tappers.

He said each individual would receive RM500.

He added that this was the third year the assistance had been given out.

'Buruh paksa: Kementerian saling tolak tanggungjawab'

Malaysia on US watch list for ‘forced labour’

“It could be that a small and isolated group of companies did not fully comply with international labour requirements and practices.”

FMT

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia risks being placed on a US watch list from December 1 for the export of electronic products following allegations that it uses forced labour in the electronic industry. The net effect of being placed on the watch list is that there would be restrictions on exports to the US.

The allegations on forced labour are contained in the Verite Report, funded by the US Labour Department. The report, released in September 2014, alleged that forced labour makes up 28 per cent of workers in the electronics industry in the country.

“The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) and the Human Resources Ministry should work together to rebut the allegations published in the recent Verite report,” said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in an immediate reaction.

“The export of electronic products to Europe may also be affected, as Europe normally follows in the footsteps of the US.”

Lim alleged that there had been a delay in responding to the threat as Miti had passed the buck to the Human Resources Ministry. “Invest Penang has addressed some of the issues with the US authorities, but it was only a state body with limited powers.”

About half of Malaysia’s exports of electronic products are from Penang.

“It could be that a small and isolated group of companies did not fully comply with international labour requirements and practices,” said Heng Huck Lee, the chairman of the Association of Free Industrial Zone Penang Companies.

“The Malaysian authorities should act quickly against these companies and gather evidence and data to prove that the majority of the electronics companies are not engaging forced labour.”

Forced labour takes different forms, including debt bondage, trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. The victims are the most vulnerable: women and girls forced into prostitution, migrants trapped in debt bondage, and sweatshop or farm workers kept there by clearly illegal tactics and paid little or nothing.

Hak pekerja Malaysia antara terburuk

More than 15,000 at anti-GST rally

A threat of a heavy downpour also failed to diminish the spirit of the participants from taking part in the rally.

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 15,000 people gathered at Dataran Merdeka today in support of the anti-GST rally, and by 4pm, thousands more were expected to join the crowd. Organisers believe the final number could be closer to 20,000.

A threat of a heavy downpour also failed to diminish the spirit of the participants from taking part in the rally.

Earlier the rally kicked off with a strong crowd support and speeches from NGO leaders in front of the iconic KLCC twin towers.

By 2pm, more that 3,000 people had gathered at the scene, with more people joining in as the crowd started to march towards Dataran Merdeka.

The rally started with speeches from civil society leaders – including Bersih chairperson Maria Chin

Abdullah and her predecessor S Ambiga – who lambasted the government’s plan to implement the GST. They also called for equal rights for local and foreign workers in conjunction of May Day.

“Everyone is going to suffer under GST. But the rich are only going to get richer,” said Maria.

“It is important for everyone to know the truth about GST and it is important for us to oppose the implementation of the GST,” she added.

“(And) not to forget free and fair election,” she further said.

Her views were later mirrored by speakers from PSM and the anti-Lynas activists.

Apart from KLCC, people had also gathered at selected locations in Dataran Maybank, opposite Sogo shopping complex and Masjid Negara. They would all march towards Dataran Merdeka.

Traffic police could be been assisting in managing the traffic to allow a smooth march towards Dataran Merdeka.

Gasak sampai tumbang

Earlier it was all well at all major roads leading to the city ahead of the May 1 rally – also dubbed as the anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) protest – scheduled for the later part of this afternoon.

The scene at the KLCC – one of the meeting points – shows hundreds of people starting to gather.

Likewise, people have started gathering at Dataran Maybank, Sogo and Masjid Negara, all awaiting the green light from the organisers to start their peaceful walk towards the Sultan Abdul Samad building opposite Dataran Merdeka.

Chanting ‘Gasak Sampai Tumbang’ and ‘hidup rakyat‘, the majority of them are walking about or standing by the roadsides under the watchful eyes of the police who are there to avoid unnecessary incidents from occurring.

Opportunistic hawkers selling mineral water bottles and canned drinks have also been spotted plying their wares to the people present.

On April 21, IGP Khalid Abu Bakar urged rally organisers not to gather at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur but a three-member Appeals Court panel ruled last Friday that the 10-day notice requirement under Section 9 of the Peaceful Assembly Act was unconstitutional.

Meanwhile Bernama reported that some of the participants had defied the police advice by taking along children and carrying placards.

Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh said the participants were allowed to gather

around the Merdeka Square but barred from entering the field and podium as they were being upgraded.

They are also not allowed to take along children, loud hailers, placards, banners, and weapons as the actions violated the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, he added.

Policemen and Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement personnel are manning Dataran Merdeka, the focal point of the rally where the participants are expected to assemble between 2 pm and 5 pm.

PEACEFUL RALLY A POSITIVE OUTCOME OF COOPERATION AMONG ALL PARTIES INVOLVED

SURUHANJAYA HAK ASASI MANUSIA MALAYSIA
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA
T el: 603-2612 5600
TINGKAT 11, MENARA TH PERDANA, Fax: 603-2612 5620
JALAN SULTAN ISMAIL, Email:humanrights@suhakam.org.my
50250 KUALA LUMPUR Web:www. suhakam.org.my

“Hak Asasi Untuk Semua”
“Human Right s For All”

EDITOR, NEWS DESK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS STATEMENT : PEACEFUL RALLY A POSITIVE OUTCOME OF COOPERATION AMONG ALL PARTIES INVOLVED

Kuala Lumpur (1 May 2014) - The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) commends the peaceful conduct of today’s anti-GST rally around the streets of Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. The Commission deems it a positive outcome resulting from good cooperation among the rally organisers, participants and the authorities.

The Commission further commends the police and the organisers for their positive engagement through a series of dialogues prior to the rally leading to the mutual agreement of both parties on several key aspects relating to the rally, particularly the police’s agreement for the organisers to use the road near Dataran Merdeka despite the square itself being closed for upgrading work.

The Commission is pleased to observe that no Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) was being deployed during the rally and that major roads and public transport stations were not closed. The police, with the assistance of the organisers’ marshals, had also successfully facilitated the traffic control and crowd movement throughout the rally so as to ensure rally participants could move from all points without much hassle.

The Commission is heartened by the positive improvement in the professionalism of the police and other enforcement authorities in handling public rallies as demonstrated through the KL112 and anti-price hike rallies as well as today’s rally. Similarly, the Commission also praises the organisers and participants for their positive engagement with the authorities.

The Commission looks forward to continued cooperation, understanding and respect in future peaceful rallies thereby ensuring that the people’s fundamental right to freedom of assembly can be fully observed at all times.

-END-
“HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL”
TAN SRI HASMY AGAM
Chairman
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

Government Committed To Modernise Malaysian Labour Laws - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government was committed to modernising Malaysian labour laws, in line with the needs of a high-income economy.

In his Labour Day message posted on his Facebook page, Najib said the government was currently reviewing the Industrial Relations Act 1967 in an effort to allow more efficient resolutions for unfair dismissals and trade disputes.

It was also to ensure effective enforcement of Industrial Court awards; and balance business needs and employees' rights through conciliation.

"The Employment Act 1955 is also under review to ensure the law is in line with emerging needs of local and foreign employers, as well as with the needs of an industrialising nation's workforce.

"Any amendment to the law is aimed at spurring productivity and efficiency, increasing income levels and protecting employees to support local, regional and global competitiveness," said Najib.

Wishing a Happy Labour Day to all workers, the prime minister said the government was committed to improving the nation's workplace for all Malaysians, regardless of rank, status, race and political standing.

He said, historically, Labour Day was a day to commemorate the economic and social achievements of workers, notably the establishment of eight-hour work days and in the past, labour laws were substandard and workers in the 1800s started coming together to push for fairer treatment in the workplace.

As Malaysia transitions from a middle-income economy to a high-income one, Najib said the nation needed the co-operation of all workers from every sector in the economy as the workforce was the backbone of the economy.

"Now is the time for our workers, economy and nation to be united in the effort to achieve a developed nation status by 2020," he noted.

Najib, who is also finance minister, said since the country celebrated the 2013 Labour Day, the unemployment rate of Malaysia had further improved to an all-time low of 3.2 per cent and was still one of the lowest in the world.

"Today, our workers have attained fair pay, decent working hours, safe working conditions and the dignity of a secure retirement," he added.

Himpunan 1 Mei diteruskan walau polis halang

Police ‘being proactive’, says organiser over discussion on May Day rally

Ahead of a May Day and GST protest rally, police called the organisers for a “talk” about the programme as the Peaceful Assembly Act requires 10-day prior notice for any gathering.

"Police said they were just being proactive, reminding us that we need to give the relevant notice as per the Act," S. Arutchelvan (pic) said after the meeting at the Dang Wangi police headquarters today.

He said the police also wanted to know the programme for the rally and events organised in conjunction with it.

The police decision to engage the organiser comes after earlier action to charge other rally organisers in the city and elsewhere drew flak from civil society.

Notable among them included the 505 blackout rallies to protest the general election results, which saw several opposition leaders charged for illegal assembly.

Arutchelvam said they had wanted to know where it will be held and what we are going to do during the gathering.

“We told them that the event will start in front of the KLCC with speeches from representatives from civil societies and then we will walk to Dataran Merdeka. We will conclude our gathering there," said Arutchelvam, who is also secretary-general of Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

He said police had also asked them to suggest an alternative venue besides Dataran Merdeka as City Hall was carrying out upgrading work at the square.

"We told the police that Dataran Merdeka is important but nevertheless we will take this to our meeting and discuss it. As for now, Dataran Merdeka is still our end point," said Arutchelvan.

Arutchelvan was accompanied to today’s meeting by a legal adviser and a colleague and spent about one hour with Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad and Kuala Lumpur public order head ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid and other senior police officers to discuss the event.

"The officers said they wanted to know as they want to facilitate the organiser to ensure that all goes well," he said.

Arutchelvan, however, told the police to use their discretion in dealing with them.

"They need to use more discretion in handling the gathering issue. If we go strictly by the law, we can never gather due to many restrictions," Arutchelvan said.

He will be present at Dang Wangi police headquarters at 2.30pm next Monday for yet another round of discussions with the police.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu will also be attending the meeting, along with Tian Chua of PKR.

A coalition of some 90 non-governmental organisations and Pakatan Rakyat parties would mobilise Malaysians for the rally, to send a clear message against the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Committee member Dr Hatta Ramli on April 2, said the next 30 days would be spent working out the logistics for the rally.

Hatta, who is also PAS central working committee member, said the introduction of the tax would only burden the people further, especially those from the lower income group who did not need to pay for income tax.

He also pointed out that the introduction of the GST was the result of the failure of the current government to work on the current tax system especially the high income earners who manage to evade tax.

"It is a short cut way to victimise the defenceless public," he had said in a press conference held by the committee recently.

The rally, which is themed "GST - Protest till it is dropped", is also aimed to draw the participation of students, who will be among the hardest hit by the tax.

Rally coordinator E. Parameswari said May 1 rallies have been held in Malaysia since 1994, but hoped that this will be the biggest yet in terms of turnout.

Among the NGOs who have pledged support are Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia, Turun, Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Oppressed People's Network and Himpunan Hijau.

Other issues to be highlighted include the ongoing demand for a minimum wage of RM1,500, fair and free elections, environmental protection, free education, and the rights of women workers and migrant workers. – April 16, 2014.

Tenaganita blasts authorities over Nepali worker’s suicide, blames recruitment agents

The lack of empathy shown towards migrant workers by the authorities here and Malaysians in

general could have driven a Nepali worker to suicide in Taman Tun Dr Ismail last week, said Tenaganita.

The non-governmental organisation which champions the rights of migrant workers and women said lack of enforcement against recruitment agencies which exploit foreign workers is the main cause of the deplorable conditions the foreigners are subjected to.

"These workers are being exploited. There is an urgent need to review our system and the government must be held accountable," said Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez (pic).

The 30-year-old Nepali jumped off the roof of a shoplot along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1 in TTDI on Wednesday morning, reportedly after being laid off.

According to reports, with mounting debts and the on-going crackdown of illegals by the Malaysian authorities, the Nepali decided to end his life.

"The policies here state that migrant workers must come into the country via recruitment agents and this is where the whole problem starts," said Fernandez.

"They pay between RM5,000 and RM8,000 to agents, depending on the sectors they are to be employed in. Nepalis usually go for jobs in the security industry here as it pays higher."

However, from the numerous complaints Tenaganita has handled, it was revealed that more often than not, Nepali workers are brought in to work in the plantation sector when their visas state otherwise.

"The migrant workers are not aware of this until they are brought into the country and told to work in a different sector.

"They don't protest. They keep silent and work where they are told to for the sake of their families back home and to pay off the debts to the agents.

"The problem starts when they are laid off. They know they cannot go to the authorities for help because they will be arrested and deported for flouting the visa.

"When the authorities move in, the workers are stripped off their work permits and visas, and are deported. Their side of the story goes unheard," she told The Malaysian Insider.

Fernandez said, this is why Tenaganita has always questioned the recruitment procedures and laws practised in the country.

She stressed that companies intending to hire foreign workers must do it themselves by hiring directly.

"However, the existing laws and red tape do not not allow for this, putting the workers in an extremely volatile and vulnerable situation.

Fernandez also does not discount the possibility of more suicides among foreign workers if measures are not taken immediately to deal with the recruitment process.

"This particular worker who took his own life must have been thrown into a situation where there was no hope, since he had no money to support himself. He had no legal paperwork on him and with the crackdown on llegals, he realised his situation was hopeless," she said.

The Nepali's suicide has also triggered an exchange among netizens, particularly those from the affluent TTDI area, as reports had claimed that many onlookers goaded the Nepali while he stood on the rooftop.

One even lamented about how "heartless" netizens in TTDI were over the incident. A reader of The Malaysian Insider also complained about the lack of preparedness by the Fire and Rescue Department and the police during the incident. - September 13, 2013.

Laid off workers in quandary

Workers of Japanese firm left in a lurch with sudden closure of business.
UPDATED

PUTRAJAYA: A total 45 laid off employees of a Japanese firm producing audio visual products are demanding Human Resources Minister Richard Riot to champion their rights.

In a letter dated July 17 this year to the employees, Sanon Kogyo Sdn Bhd managing director Noriyuki Uwajima informed them that the company is winding up “ due to high production costs and low revenue effective immediately”.

Their plant is located in Bandar Baru Bangi.

This morning, about 25 of its’ laid off workers staged a picket to highlight their plight.

“We want the company to pay us salaries for the month of May and June,” said 49-year-old Hatijah Halimi who worked in the company for almost 23 years.

“We want work compensation based on our years of service. We are unable to get jobs now because of age factor,” she said.

Another ex-staff claimed that the company only paid summons instead of contributing to their employment provident fund (EPF) and social security (SOCSO) accounts.

“EPF and Socso contributions were deducted for the past 18 months but it is not in our accounts,” said Azizam Alang who worked there for the past 19 years.

Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas workers’ rights coordinator M Sivaranjani who led the workers today questioned the manner in which the workers were laid off.

“There is a proper procedure to follow if you lay off workers. Employers must stop overtime and inform workers earlier of their plans to lay them off.

“However, Sanon Kogyo Sdn Bhd paid overtime until June,” she said.

Management washing hands


She also said that Noriyuki Uwajima is attempting to wash off his hands when the case was brought to the Bangi labour office.

A case was filed there on July 22.

During the dispute hearing on September 5, Uwajima made a statutory declaration that he is not the company director.

The case was subsequently heard at the Labour Court.

“We want the minister to forbid Uwajima from absconding,” said Sivaranjani.

In addition to this, she also requested Riot to use the retrenchment fund to support the laid off workers.

Later a group of eight workers had a meeting with representatives from the Human Resources Ministry.

Labour Department’s senior assistant director Rhymie Mohd Ramli said, “the ministry can’t take action because the case is on trial.”

On the demands over EPF and Socso contributions, he said there were mechanisms within the respective departments to take action.

As for the retrenchment funds, he said he would relay the demand to his superiors.

Tenaganita: Levy leads to further exploitation

The Star

PETALING JAYA: Forcing migrant workers to pay levy charges will lead to further exploitation, according to Tenaganita.

Its executive director Dr Irene Fernandez said shifting the responsibility of paying for the levy from employers to migrant workers would eat into the latter’s “already meagre incomes”.

“The levy deducted for the average foreign worker, besides those in the plantation sector, accounts for about 17% of the wage earned.

“On the other hand, a Malaysian needs to pay taxes only when he or she earns more than RM3,000 monthly.

“Thus, migrant workers are in fact the highest taxpayers in terms of income and levy. And the migrant worker does not enjoy any benefit from these taxes,’’ she told reporters at the Tenaganita headquarters here yesterday.

The levy system was introduced in 1992. However, the Government moved this responsibility to employers in 2009 in an effort to reduce the country’s reliance on migrant manpower.

On Wednesday, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah announced that the Cabinet had decided that foreign workers were to pay their levy charges, adding that this was to lower employers’ cost in hiring such workers.

Fernandez said removing the levy burden from employers would only prod them to replace local workers with foreigners.

Cops: 6P fiasco probe ‘almost’ done

Investigations into a company accused of exploiting and assaulting dozens of Bangladeshi workers nearing completion, says district police chief.

PETALING JAYA: Police are wrapping up investigations against a government-appointed firm in the 6P amnesty programme accused of human trafficking related and cheating offences.

Cheras district police chief ACP Mohan Singh Tara Singh said that statements from all relevant parties have been recorded but refused to divulge details on the investigations.

“We won’t reveal more. We will be referring the case to the DPP [deputy public prosecutor]‘s office soon, probably within this week, and seek further instructions,” he said.

He added that this would be the second time the investigation papers will be handed to the DPP as the first time around, more investigations were required to ‘tighten up’ the case.

Asked if police recorded statements from all the directors of the company, which previous reports showed links to Umno, an ex-home minister and a current MP, Mohan replied: “No comments.”

However, he said that police would investigate all aspects, including utilising Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Act 2007 as well as Section 420 of the Penal Code.

The first covers a wide range of offences, including the use of force, threat, abduction and deception, and the latter is for cheating offences.

Three foreigners were arrested in connection with the investigations and released later, with police saying they were hunting down another suspect, apparently more vital to the case.

But Mohan today declined to say how many arrests or statements in total have been recorded, and only said, “investigations are almost complete.”

Workers cheated

On Nov 5, FMT published a report based on two CCTV videos showing Bangladeshi workers being assaulted, allegedly by employees of SNT Universal Corporation, a company officially appointed by the government to assist in the 6P exercise.

The videos were exposed by the Selangor Council Against Human Trafficking (Mapmas) with the help of whistleblowers.

The assault victims in the video are said to come from a group of about 200 who were supposed to have been registered by the company under the 6P programme.

When they realised that they had been cheated when they did not receive their work permits, the group then lodged a police report over the matter.

Under the 6P programme, illegal foreign workers will either be legalised or deported without punishment. The six Ps represent Malay words for registration, legalisation, amnesty, monitoring enforcement and deportation.

The government has appointed more than 300 companies to carry out the registration.

Following the video expose, Mapmas task force member Abdul Aziz Ismail revealed that SNT might have committed fraud by setting up more than a dozen other companies to act as “bogus employers”.

It was alleged that these companies had no business infrastructure and were formed for the sole purpose of obtaining fraudulent work permits for foreign workers under the 6P programme.

FMT also reported that former home minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad is a director in the same company, and according to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), Radzi became a director of SNT on May 17, 2011.

However, Radzi had denied being involved in any way to the activities of the company, claiming that his name was being misused.

He subsequently lodged a report on the FMT article which allegedly implicated him, and this reporter was questioned by police under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.

MIC sec-gen defends the boss

Defending Palanivel, Murugesan says the MIC president is doing his best for Indians in the country.

PETALING JAYA: MIC secretary-general S Murugesan today rubbished accusations that G Palanivel is the weakest MIC president since the inception of the largest Indian-based political party in the country in 1946.

“Our president (Palanivel) has not only fought for our benefit these past years but also does his best to improve our future. MIC is doing its best to improve its involvement with grassroots members, we believe this will help us become stronger,” he told FMT.

Murugesan was asked to comment on former MIC vice-president M Muthu Palaniappan’s statement recently that Palanivel, who took helm of the party in 2009, was the weakest president in the party’s history.

“He (Palanivel) can’t gather any support. He has no grassroots support. Palanivel has a strange political style. He has chosen a few people to be with him in a small circle. He doesn’t know that these people are actually there only for material benefit, not out of loyalty to MIC and BN,” said Muthu Palaniappan in an interview with FMT recently.

The veteran leader, who is now with PKR, was one of the few Negeri Sembilan MIC leaders who rose to national prominence in the 80s and 90s. He was MIC Youth chief from 1979 to 1984 and vice-president of the party from 1997 to 2000.

“He is a disgruntled leader, that’s all. Coming from a defector, it is obvious. He has been in MIC for many years and even tried to contest for president but failed. All this has probably led him to say things like that,” said Murugesan today.

The MIC secretary-general said the party, with 630,000 members, has moved forward and brought the Indian community along with it.

“We are implementing new policies and programmes to help the Indians grow. We have RM180 million allocated by the government to help finance our young Indian entrepreneurs. Of course, all this cash is parked in several components such as Tekun and our community is sure to benefit from this.

“Also, RM100 million each in 2012 and 2013 for the revamp of Tamil schools nationwide. On top of that, RM50 million has been allocated to aid Indians in skills training for the year 2013,” he added.

He said while it may be true that some Tamil schools have yet to get funding, there were various reasons for it.

He said since the RM100 million was divided among a large number of schools, they ended-up receiving small amounts to refurbish their schools.

“Therefore, we have actually planned to reduce the number of schools to get funds each year so we can do the necessary for the schools once and for all. If a certain school had requested for funds and had not received it this year, that school will definitely receive it the following year and in good time we can resolve this matter altogether.

“I have nothing against anyone, no grudges whatsoever. Anybody can say what they want, only time can tell. But all I can say is, the 2013 elections will definitely be better than that in 2008 for MIC,” he added.

Submit paperwork, contractors told

Murugesan said the party was transparent in aiding and assisting Tamil schools.

“Everything is transparent, we have nothing to hide. Our president has even managed to get the budget approved for next year. This means another RM100 million in 2013. So, schools which missed out on the funds this year will definitely receive it next year,” he added.

Asked on speculation that a huge chunk of the RM100 was being unutilised and returned to the Education Ministry, he said: “All this was done transparently, we have nothing to hide. We were given funds to help the Indians and that’s exactly what we did, that is our purpose.”

On claims that Indian contractors who repaired Tamil schools had yet to be paid, he said these contractors must submit proper “paperwork” for them to receive the money.

“This is the first time our Indian contractors have been given the main contracts, we have created an opportunity for them. It is up to them to honour it by having the right paperwork and not give it out as a sub-contract to a third party. However, I don’t have sufficient information on this issue and therefore cannot say anything further,” he added.

Asked if MIC would meet the National Indian Rights Team (NIAT) to explain where the funds went and to how many schools benefited from it, Murugesan said everything on the matter had been declared.

“Everything has been declared and done openly, we have made it public and we have nothing to hide. Besides, NIAT was supposed to be abolished after the Interlok issue, why are they still around?

“They being around is not an issue, but why misjudge and misinform the public. I do not want to antagonise anyone, I don’t have the reason to,” said Murugesan.

NIAT recently asked MIC to meet them on Jan 5 to explain the issue.

Indian workers are well looked after in M’sia

The government is determined in safeguarding the interests and welfare of Indian workers, says Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam.

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government has always ensured that the welfare and interests of Indian workers in the country are looked after, said Human Resource Minister Dr S Subramaniam.

He said other measures taken included the registration of illegal workers under the 6P programme, only allowing the employers to hold their workers’ passport with the consent of the employees, and requiring employers to pay their employees’ salaries through bank accounts.

“We agreed to have further discussions on some other areas like the social security scheme which the Indian government is trying to implement for their workers overseas.

“I agreed to give the government’s further cooperation to support any such ventures as long as it is within the framework of our law. It was a useful meeting which will further strengthen the mechanism which we have for the recruitment, management and safeguard of the Indian workers in Malaysia,” he said.

He was speaking at a press conference after a meeting with Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi at his office, today.

He said currently there were about 74,000 legal Indian workers in this country.

Meanwhile, Vayalar Ravi said the Indian government was satisfied with the Malaysian government’s concern and determination in safeguarding the interests and welfare of Indian workers.

“I’m glad to learn that the Malaysian government is giving the work permit for five years, it was good decision taken by the government. In some other countries, they only give for two or three years.

“We are also looking for the G-G (government-to-government) approach to strengthen relations between both governments. I believe all this will mutually help both countries to strengthen the bilateral relationship which was built over the years,” he added.

He also invited Subramaniam to attend the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), a forum that connects the overseas Indians which will be held from Jan 7 to 9, 2013 in Cochin, a major port city in the west coast of India.

- Bernama

FMT journalist quizzed by cops

A journalist was questioned under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 for allegedly implicating a former minister with trafficking.

PETALING JAYA: Online journalist Teoh El Sen was today questioned under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 for allegedly slandering former home minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad by implicating him in human trafficking.

Section 233 disallows improper use of network facilities or network service. If found guilty Teoh is liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or a one year jail term or both.

Teoh, who is with FreeMalaysiaToday news portal, was questioned for 90 minutes by Inspector Nasrul Md Isa of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department in Bukit Perdana, Kuala Lumpur in connection with an article he wrote on Nov 23.

In the article, FMT revealed that Radzi is a director of a company – SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd – that was being investigated by police for human trafficking related offences.

According to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) records show that Radzi became a director of SNT on May 17, 2011.

But Radzi, when contacted, denied that he was involved in human trafficking.

SNT is a government-appointed agent in the 6P amnesty programme. SNT is among more than 300 companies which were appointed by the government to handle the registration of illegal foreign workers in a bid to either legalise them or deported without punishment.

Police intimidation

Meanwhile the decision to investigate Teoh did not go down well with anti-human trafficking activists.

Selangor Anti-Human Trafficking Council (Mapmas) member Abdul Aziz Ismail expressed disgust with the police action.

“This is a clear cut case of 6P human re-trafficking. Bukit Aman should go after the perpetrators, not after the whistleblowers.

“(They should) investigate the case itself, but instead they are intimidating the people providing information.

“Do the enforcement agencies even understand what is human trafficking?

“The things that they are doing right now is so little and it’s because they are doing it for the sole reason of pacifying the international civil society community,” he said.

SMS invites Indian nationals to Putrajaya rally

A foreigner says a person calling himself PKR Bala promised him Malaysian citizenship.

PUTRAJAYA : An Indian national has alleged that someone claiming to be a PKR leader promised to help him get Malaysian citizenship provided he join today’s protest at the National Registration Department (NRD) here.

Vengadeshwaran Subramaniam, who hails from Tamil Nadu and now resides in Kampung Kayu Ara, Damansara, told FMT that three days ago he received a text message with the promise from a person identifying himself as PKR Bala.

He said he called the number from which the message was sent. “The phone was picked-up by an Indian man who introduced himself as PKR Bala. He told me he got my number through my friends.”

The SMS, which was forwarded to FMT, reads: “To all Indian National from India. Don’t miss this opportunity. U can get Malaysian citizenship. Malaysian government giving u a chance now. Please go and register at Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (NRD), Putrajaya on 12-12-12 at 10am. Please pass a word to all our Indians friends.”

Subramaniam said several of his friends received the same message.

He said that in the phone conversation, he asked PKR Bala to explain his message. “He told me he will help me get a MyKad. In return I have to participate in the rally.”

Subramaniam said he took along several friends to Putrajaya today.

“I reached here early in the morning,” he said. “When I called PKR Bala, he said that he would not come to the protest. He also told me that Indian nationals would only get the MyKad if Pakatan takes over Putrajaya.

“It looks like he has cheated me.”

FMT did a quick check at the rally and found that more than 10 participants were Indian nationals.

The rally today was organised by PKR to highlight the high number of Malaysian Indians without proper documentation. PKR claims there are about 300,000 stateless Indian in the country while the government claims the number only stands at 15,000.

‘AG Chambers aiding human traffickers’

A labour activist claims that the AG Chambers is working hand in glove with the Bangladeshi High Commission to aid human traffickers.

KUALA LUMPUR: Labour activist Abdul Aziz Ismail has accused the Attorney-General’s Chambers of colluding with the Bangladeshi High Commission to aid human traffickers.

In an open letter to the government, the Selangor Anti-Human Trafficking Council member said he came to such a conclusion after his appointment as a workers welfare adviser under the Bangladeshi High Commission here was suddenly revoked.

“The sudden cancellation of my appointment by the commission under the instructions of the AG Chambers is beyond their boundaries and perimeter and it was done in bad faith,” he wrote.

He said he suspected that the AG Chambers and the Bangladesh High Commission had, willingly or unwittingly, become the tools of human trafficking syndicates, by protecting them.

In 2007, Aziz said he was officially appointed to assist or represent Bangladesh migrant workers on matters concerning their welfare by the commission. He was then empowered to assist them to obtain temporary stay visas, lodging police reports and accompanying them during legal proceedings as a translator.

He said in the years of voluntarism in this manner, he succesfully secured about more than RM700,000 of unpaid wages for exploited foreign workers.

He said that his work had began somewhere between 2006 and 2009, when most of the Bangladesh migrant workers were brought into Malaysia and issued fraudulent “calling visa” by the Immigration Department approved by the Home Ministry to bogus employers or outsourcing companies.

He alleged that those workers were later sold to a third party by their bogus employers or outsource companies, and abandoned.

“These traffic victims were later detained and arrested as undocumented, illegal entry, over-staying and violating employment pass,” he said.

Aziz said he was much involved during that period and represented victims of unpaid wages, unlawful dismissal, unlawful detention and all other suppression by agents, employers or the authorities.

All these he did without being paid a single sen by the commission or by the victims.

He said that the current 6P amnesty programme was akin to a “Re-Trafficking Programme” that caused hundreds of thousands of foreigners to be cheated and victimised by enforcement agencies.

Human trafficking industry

“Their objective is to deport the current re-trafficked victims at the expense of public funds and recruit new intake to boost the human trafficking industry,” he added.

Recently, Aziz helped FMT expose SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd to be behind the exploitation of foreign workers, mainly Bangladeshis.

The company was accused of committing several offences, including cheating by falsely claiming to be able to register foreigners under the 6P programme and getting work permits for them, and setting up dozens of bogus employment agencies.

Those working in the company were also accused of assaulting these foreigners, an episode of which was captured on CCTV recordings.

FMT also reported that former home minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, the current MP for Kangar, was also a director in SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, according to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) records.

Radzi later explained that he was roped in to be a director by several friends and that he was unaware of the activities of the company.

Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan had also weighed in on the controversy, alleging that the way the government had conducted the 6P was akin to human trafficking.

“When you privatise 6P and foreign labour, and allow third parties to make money out of it… this can be regarded as human trafficking,” Musa said.

Ex-IGP: 6P encourages human trafficking

Musa Hassan also says former minster Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad cannot claim ignorance of the operations of the company in which he is a director.

PETALING JAYA: Former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan weighed in on the controversy surrounding the 6P amnesty programme, alleging that the way the government had conducted it was akin to human trafficking.

“When you privatise 6P and foreign labour, and allow third parties to be making money out of it… this can regarded as human trafficking,” Musa told FMT.

Although more than 300 6P agents were appointed by the government, Musa said that it does not stop the outsourced companies, including unlicensed agents, from exploiting foreigners.

“Why do you need a third party to do it for you? That is not really good. Because you already have the proper channels and agencies in charge of this.

“Managing foreign workers is the job of the Immigration Department and Labour Department. You don’t need to privatise it, which opens it up to manipulation,” he said.

Musa also said former Home Minister Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad cannot claim ignorance of the operations of SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, a 6P agent, being probed for abuses.

“Being a director in the company, Radzi cannot say that he doesn’t know what the company is doing. He should know,” said Musa.

Musa: Things must be done properly

FMT, in a series of articles, exposed SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd to be behind the exploitation of foreign workers, mainly Bangladeshis.

The company has been accused of committing several offences, including cheating by falsely claiming to be able to register foreigners under the 6P programme and getting work permits for them, and setting up dozens of bogus employment agencies.

Those working in the company were also accused of assaulting these foreigners, an episode of which was captured on CCTV recordings.

FMT also reported that Radzi, the current MP for Kangar, was also a director in SNT Universal Corporation Sdn Bhd, according to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) records.

Radzi’s explanation was that he was roped in to be a director by several friends and that he was unaware of the activities of the company.

Meanwhile, on a separate matter, Musa stressed that his criticisms of the police and government yesterday was done for the betterment of the country.

“My intention is to point out weaknesses. I’m not attacking the Home Minister. I’m just thinking of the security of this country, for the people. Things must be done properly.”

On his allegation that enforcement agencies have underworld links, Musa said that the authorities already know about it, and only requires the political will to investigate.

“I think that relevant agencies like the MACC all know about it…has to investigate lah, right? Don’t wait for people to complain. They know what they are doing.

“I was a government servant, I don’t want to say they are not doing anything. But they should already know. Just like fighting corruption there must be political will. You can’t do it alone.”

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